Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government hasn’t taken a formal position. I can say personally I was certainly supportive of the federal legislation that was proposed before the last election, and I personally would enjoy seeing the federal government bring that legislation back onto the table. But our government can’t create a criminal offence and that is what I think is necessary in order to properly protect animals in our jurisdiction and across Canada. In terms of what we can do further, I expect that my colleague, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, and myself...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sensitive to the public concern around this issue. I have a dog as a pet and was troubled when I saw the pictures and heard the story as well, but at this point I can’t add much to what’s been happening with the investigation. I know that the RCMP have appealed to the public for anybody to come forward who has information on the case and they would welcome anybody providing that. The investigation is continuing, but I believe that the RCMP would welcome some assistance if anybody has any information on the case. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure whether or not that would. I would have to check with the college. I will take that question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have raised the issue with the chairs of the two Yellowknife boards, but the department does not get directly involved in deciding who should be hired by which board. We make sure that all of the boards are aware of people who are looking for positions and are interested and at this point we are confident that there are positions available if teachers are prepared to take them, but we can’t guarantee what community the positions will be available in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to provide all of that information to the Regular Members. I will do that within the next two or three days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some people who are in the gallery for the Northern Teachers’ Council. Amanda Mallon is president of the NWT Teachers’ Association.

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Mr. Dave Roebuck is the executive director of the NWTTA.

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Mr. Ian Oostindie is president of the Yukon Teachers’ Association.

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I understand he is also the Premier’s brother-in-law.

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Dennis Rankin, the executive director of the Yukon Teachers’ Association, is with us.

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Lou Budgell from the Nunavut Teachers’ Association is in the gallery.

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Jimm...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Annual Report on Official Languages, 2003-2004. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said already on the one report, I don’t believe that there is any way to sever the personal information from the one report and bring anything forward from it. On the courts, the one the Member has referred to, I’m not aware of that report, so I will have to look into it and find out whether or not anything from that report can be made public. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe that can be made available. I don’t think that there is any way that that report, the way it was written, that the information could be severed to protect the individuals involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Coalition Against Family Violence was a large number of groups that included federal agencies as well as territorial and non-government agencies. The response that I brought forward last week was our response to their report. So the response did not have everybody from the coalition at the table. It was developed as a government response, so it wasn’t exactly the same group that was involved in developing that response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.